Members of the Class of 2025 were honored at the Baccalaureate: Graduate Celebration and Sending service on Saturday, May 3, in Lehman Auditorium. The ceremony included presidential and faculty addresses, senior class salutations, and the presentation of the senior class gift, as well as moments of prayer, music, and poetry from graduates.
The baccalaureate service offers graduates an opportunity to pause and reflect on their journey as they prepare their hearts and spirit for what lies ahead. 鈥淚t is a moment to look back with pride and to look forward with courage,鈥� said Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs, in her welcome. The graduates were joined by family members, friends, supporters, and EMU faculty, staff, and administrators to celebrate their achievements.
EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, in her address 鈥淵ou are Salt of the Earth and Light to the World!鈥�, reflected on Jesus鈥� Sermon on the Mount and offered three lessons: be other-centered, not me-centered; pay attention to the redemptive love offered all around you, even in brokenness; and step out of your comfort zone and build bridges to solve societal problems.
鈥淢y wish for you, Class of 2025, is that you vanquish your fears as you become shakers of salt and beacons of light in your homes, your neighborhoods, your churches, your workplaces, and your communities,鈥� Huxman said.
Huxman, who has served as EMU鈥檚 ninth president for the past nine years, is retiring this year. Throughout her two terms, she has worked diligently to help EMU fulfill its Anabaptist mission, inspired by Micah 6:8, to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
Chad Gusler, associate professor of language and literature, delivered the faculty address titled 鈥淭he Sound of Your Love Saying Goodbye.鈥� In his humorous and enlightening message to graduates, the wordsmith reflected on monsters, recounting childhood memories of living near a fantastical, kid-eating monster, and how he later transformed into a tickle monster for his own children. 鈥淏ut here鈥檚 the truth: I鈥檓 not the only monster in this room,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou all are monsters, graduating with a BA in monsterhood.鈥�
鈥淵ou show us, professors, administrators, all the parents out there, who we are,鈥� Gusler said. 鈥淏ecause monsters are mirrors, reflecting the best, and sometimes even the worst, of us. So check your limbs, walk without fear, and embrace your monstrosity.鈥�
Mana Acosta and Meredith Lehman, senior class co-presidents, provided the senior class salutations, reflecting on their experiences as EMU students. Acosta, a Cords of Distinction recipient, spoke about the beauty of transition and of the 鈥済ravity to leaving a place鈥� and saying goodbye.
鈥淪ome of us are headed into jobs, grad school, or that uncertain place in between,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut no matter where we land, we carry something from EMU: the quiet belief that we are responsible to the world around us. We鈥檝e learned that justice isn鈥檛 only an idea, it鈥檚 a habit you practice, and that hope isn鈥檛 soft, it鈥檚 stubborn. So here we are, standing at the edge of something new. It’s going to be scary, but we’re not doing it alone.鈥�
Lehman, the first EMU student to receive the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, spent the spring semester at the Washington Community Scholars’ Center. She reflected on how living so close to the 鈥渦pheaval and chaos鈥� in Washington, D.C., taught her an important lesson: 鈥淭here are people who care, working in quiet persistence鈥� to fight injustice. 鈥淭here are networks of resistance all around the world, whether you see them or not. This school has prepared us all to be those people.鈥�
鈥淭he world needs you desperately,鈥� Lehman told the graduates. 鈥淚 wait in eager anticipation to see all of my fellow graduates emerge from this institution with vigor, hope, and vision for the world.鈥�
Aja Laun, senior class business manager, and Iris Anderson, senior class secretary, presented the senior class gift to Huxman. The undergraduate Class of 2025 raised money for improvements to the 鈥済rasscrete鈥� pathway between the Sadie Hartzler Library and University Commons.
Graduates received an EMU pin representing the wisdom they鈥檝e shared and the investment and commitment they鈥檝e made during their time as students. They were encouraged to wear the pin at Commencement and beyond to celebrate their EMU experience.
Following the service, the graduates, their families, and EMU faculty and staff were invited to a President鈥檚 Reception held in the Campus Center Greeting Hall. The event provided an opportunity for graduates and family members to meet with faculty, staff, and administrators, mingle with one another while they remained on campus, and enjoy refreshments.
The ceremony featured piano music from Mikayla Pettus 鈥�25 and adjunct faculty member Harold Bailey, singing from Emma Nord 鈥�25 and Cassidy Williams 鈥�25, and a poetry reading from Alexis Lewis 鈥�25. Marciella Shallomita 鈥�25 led the prayer of invocation. Professors Dr. Kevin Seidel and Dr. Timothy Seidel, senior class advisors, read scripture passages from Micah 6:6-8 and Matthew 5:1-16. Jonathan Swartz, dean of students, offered the reflection and ritual, and Brian Martin Burkholder, university chaplain, provided the sending blessing.
